Intentional Living: Decisions That Transform Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Building Bridges in Isolation

In a world where isolation is prevalent, God calls us to be intentional in building connections and sharing His love with those around us. Patty Sandell's ministry in apartment communities serves as a powerful example of how we can reach out to those who may feel alone and disconnected. By engaging in community-focused ministries, we can combat isolation and build meaningful relationships that reflect Christ's love. This is a reminder that regardless of our circumstances, we are called to be vessels of God's love and grace, creating spaces where His presence is felt and His love is shared. [29:38]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community might be feeling isolated or disconnected? How can you reach out to them this week to show them the love of Christ?

Day 2: Compassion in Times of Tragedy

In the face of tragedy, such as the recent event at Antioch High School, we are reminded of the importance of being a source of comfort and support. As believers, we are called to reflect God's compassion and faithfulness, offering prayers and support to those who are grieving. This is a time to trust in God's ability to bring healing and comfort to those who are hurting, and to be His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs His love and peace. Our role is to stand alongside those in pain, offering a listening ear and a compassionate heart. [31:48]

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a source of comfort and support to someone who is grieving or experiencing loss today?

Day 3: Living with Intentionality

The decisions to follow Jesus, embrace freedom, live with purpose, and make everything count are foundational to a transformed life. These choices guide us to live intentionally, ensuring our lives are aligned with God's plan. By making these intentional decisions, we are able to live a life that truly matters, one that is marked by purpose and meaning. Our lives are God's handiwork, crafted with intention and purpose, and we are called to do good works prepared for us in advance. This is a call to live with intentionality, making every moment count for the glory of God. [36:28]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you can make today to align your life more closely with God's purpose for you?

Day 4: Following Jesus' Example

Jesus' life exemplifies how to make every moment count. By adopting His mandate, mindset, method, and surrounding ourselves with the right community, we can live a life that truly matters. Jesus lived with a clear purpose, a servant mindset, and a supportive community, teaching us the importance of having a divine mandate and a purposeful method. By aligning our lives with these principles, we can ensure that our time on earth is meaningful and impactful, following in the footsteps of Jesus and living a life that reflects His love and grace. [45:53]

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: What specific aspect of Jesus' life can you emulate today to make your life more meaningful and impactful?

Day 5: The Power of Community

Being part of a church family is crucial for spiritual growth and fulfilling God's purpose. The church is not just a place we attend but a family we belong to, providing the support and accountability needed to live out our faith and impact the world for Christ. This community is essential for sharpening and supporting us as we pursue God's purpose, offering a space where we can grow, learn, and serve together. By being actively involved in a church community, we can fulfill our mission and live out our faith in a way that honors God and blesses others. [01:08:24]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to your church community this week to help others grow in their faith?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound impact of making intentional decisions in our lives, especially as we embark on a new year. We began by highlighting the inspiring work of Patty Sandell and her ministry in apartment communities, emphasizing the importance of connection and sharing the love of Jesus in often isolated environments. This serves as a reminder that God can use each of us, regardless of our circumstances, to build relationships and spread His love.

We then turned our attention to the recent tragic event at Antioch High School, expressing our collective grief and offering prayers for the affected families and community. This tragedy underscores the need for us to be a source of comfort and support, reflecting God's compassion and faithfulness in times of sorrow.

As we concluded our series "I Have Decided," we revisited the four pivotal decisions that can transform our lives: following Jesus, embracing true freedom, living with purpose, and making everything count. These decisions are interconnected, each building upon the other to guide us toward a life that truly matters. We are reminded that our lives are God's handiwork, crafted with intention and purpose, and that we are called to do good works prepared for us in advance.

We also examined the life of Jesus as the ultimate example of making every moment count. Jesus lived with a clear mandate, mindset, method, and surrounded Himself with the right mates. His life teaches us the importance of having a divine mandate, a servant mindset, a purposeful method, and a supportive community. By aligning our lives with these principles, we can ensure that our time on earth is meaningful and impactful.

Finally, we emphasized the significance of being part of a church community, a tribe that supports and sharpens us as we pursue God's purpose. The church is not just a place we attend but a family we belong to, essential for living out our faith and fulfilling our mission.

Key Takeaways

1. focused ministries, we can combat isolation and build meaningful relationships that reflect Christ's love. [29:38]
2. Responding to Tragedy: In times of grief and loss, we are reminded of God's faithfulness and compassion. Our role as believers is to offer support and prayer, trusting that God can bring healing and comfort to those who are hurting.

3. Intentional Living: The decisions to follow Jesus, embrace freedom, live with purpose, and make everything count are foundational to a transformed life. These choices guide us to live intentionally, ensuring our lives are aligned with God's plan.

4. Jesus as Our Example: Jesus' life exemplifies how to make every moment count. By adopting His mandate, mindset, method, and surrounding ourselves with the right community, we can live a life that truly matters.

5. The Importance of Community: Being part of a church family is crucial for spiritual growth and fulfilling God's purpose. The church provides the support and accountability needed to live out our faith and impact the world for Christ.

** [29:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:38] - Praying for Antioch High School
[31:48] - Responding to Tragedy
[32:53] - New Year Decisions
[34:38] - Following Jesus
[36:28] - Making Everything Count
[38:58] - God's Handiwork
[41:03] - True Worship
[42:21] - Transforming Our Minds
[44:33] - Learning from Jesus
[45:53] - Jesus' Mandate
[46:53] - Aligning with Jesus
[49:53] - Humility and Service
[51:42] - Growing in Wisdom
[53:28] - Learning from Mistakes
[55:17] - Living with Purpose
[57:19] - Jesus' Selective Choices
[59:02] - Rest and Renewal
[60:07] - Choosing the Right Mates
[68:24] - The Church as Our Tribe

Sermon Clips

"You are the God of compassion who offers comfort and care for those that are hurting. And I pray that everybody feeling loss or grief or pain right now would know that they could run to you and find your arms open and find that you're for them and not against them and you want to provide the healing that they need. And may we as your church family be a place that lifts you up to the hurting people of the world." [00:32:03] (32 seconds)

"When, in fact, our true and proper worship is to present our whole lives to God 24 -7, lived out as an act of worship. You can't segment it out from any other part of your life. Like, I'm going to worship and then I'm going to leave worship. Not if you're a Christ follower. A Christ follower presents their body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God all the time." [00:40:38] (25 seconds)

"Jesus didn't waste any days with the time that he had. And as you read about his ministry in the gospels and in the epistles, you can see that he had a method that he used and how he lived life every day. Jesus' days, first of all, were intentional. He started every day in light of the mission, the mandate that his father had given him." [00:55:57] (25 seconds)

"Having the right connections with the right family, with the right friends can really help you get through the hardest of things. That's why God gave us the family, the church. He designed the church to be that family that we connect to and belong to to go through life with on this earth." [01:03:10] (21 seconds)

"Christian people, I said this last week. I want to emphasize it again. Stop believing the lie that you don't need the church to be a follower of Jesus Christ. You have to have the church to fulfill that mandate of not only following Jesus but being the witness to others to come to Jesus that you need to be." [01:08:24] (22 seconds)

"Connecting to and serving in a church family keeps us on mission with life that matters, with life that really counts for what's most important. You lose that connection. You lose the mandate. You lose the mission. You lose the purpose for living your life. You can't disconnect from that and live out God's purpose for you being here, right here, right now, with a plan that he has for your life." [01:09:14] (32 seconds)

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